Fall Prevention in the Elderly
As we age, maintaining balance and mobility becomes increasingly important to avoid falls and maintain independence. At PREHAB, our Fall Prevention Program is designed to help older adults improve their strength, balance, and coordination, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Our goal is to help you or your loved ones stay active, safe, and confident in everyday activities.
Stay Active, Stay Safe
Why is Fall Prevention Important?
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury among older adults and can have serious consequences, including fractures, hospitalizations, and a loss of independence. The good news is that many falls can be prevented with the right interventions.
Common Risk Factors for Falls in the Elderly:
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Weak Muscles and Joints: Loss of muscle strength and joint flexibility increases the risk of falling.
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Balance and Coordination Issues: As balance declines with age, the ability to stabilize and prevent falls is reduced.
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Chronic Health Conditions: Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease can impair mobility and increase fall risk.
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Medication Side Effects: Some medications cause dizziness or drowsiness, contributing to falls.
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Environmental Hazards: Poor lighting, uneven floors, or lack of handrails in the home can increase the likelihood of falling.
Our Approach to Fall Prevention
At PREHAB, we take a comprehensive, proactive approach to reducing the risk of falls in older adults. Our fall prevention program is tailored to each individual’s needs, addressing physical, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
1. Fall Risk Assessment
We begin with a thorough fall risk assessment to identify potential risk factors and create a personalized prevention plan. This includes:
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Balance and Gait Analysis: We evaluate your ability to maintain balance while standing and walking, and assess any abnormalities in your gait.
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Muscle Strength Testing: We test key muscle groups that are critical for maintaining balance and preventing falls.
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Joint Mobility and Flexibility Assessment: Identifying limitations in joint range of motion that may increase fall risk.
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Home Safety Assessment: We provide advice on making your home environment safer, recommending changes such as removing tripping hazards, improving lighting, and installing handrails.
2. Personalized Fall Prevention Programs
Based on your assessment, we create a personalized fall prevention program that includes a combination of exercises, education, and environmental modifications to help you or your loved ones stay safe and mobile.
Key Components of Our Fall Prevention Program:
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Balance Training: Exercises that improve balance and coordination, helping to stabilize the body and prevent falls. These exercises may include:
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Single-leg stands: Strengthening muscles that support balance.
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Heel-to-toe walking: Improving coordination and stability.
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Tai Chi-inspired movements: Enhancing flexibility, balance, and posture.
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Strength Training: Weak muscles, especially in the legs and core, increase the risk of falling. We provide strength training exercises to help you build and maintain muscle mass.
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Resistance exercises: Using resistance bands or light weights to strengthen leg and core muscles.
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Functional strength training: Exercises that mimic daily movements to enhance your ability to perform routine activities safely.
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Flexibility & Mobility Exercises: Stiff joints can limit mobility and increase the risk of falls. We incorporate gentle stretching and mobility exercises to keep your joints flexible and your body agile.
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Gait Training: Improving your walking pattern (gait) helps reduce the risk of tripping or losing balance. We focus on:
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Walking posture correction
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Improving step coordination and rhythm
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Gait modifications for specific conditions, like arthritis
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Education and Support for Fall Prevention
Education is an essential part of our fall prevention program. We work with both older adults and their caregivers to ensure they understand how to reduce fall risks in everyday life.
What We Cover in Our Education Sessions:
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Safe Movement Practices: We teach techniques for getting up from chairs, walking on uneven surfaces, and using assistive devices like walkers and canes properly.
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Home Safety Tips: Our experts provide guidance on modifying your home to make it safer, such as improving lighting, removing rugs, and installing grab bars in bathrooms.
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Medication Review: Understanding how certain medications may affect balance or increase dizziness is key to preventing falls. We can collaborate with your healthcare provider to manage medications safely.
Caregiver Support
We also offer training and resources for caregivers to help them better support their loved ones in preventing falls, maintaining mobility, and staying safe at home.
Expert Team
Our team of physiotherapists and specialists are experienced in working with older adults to improve balance, mobility, and strength. We understand the unique challenges seniors face and provide compassionate, personalized care.
Holistic Approach
We don’t just focus on exercises—we take a holistic approach to fall prevention by addressing environmental risks, providing education, and offering support to both seniors and caregivers.
Personalized Care Plans
Every individual is different, which is why we tailor our programs to your specific needs and lifestyle. Our goal is to help you stay active and independent for as long as possible.
Ongoing Support
Fall prevention is a lifelong practice. At PREHAB, we provide ongoing support through regular check-ins and progress assessments to ensure that you continue to stay strong, safe, and confident.
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Jamie Lane
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Max Johnson
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Jesse Neimus
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Drew Carlyle
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